Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Posture”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,603 records · Page 89Linked to original sources

Effects of different jaw relations on postural stability in human subjects.

Authors investigated the effects of different jaws relations on body posture in a sample of 95 subjects. All subjects underwent a posturometric and stabilometric analysis using a computerized footboard. Tests were performed in three mandibular positions: centric occlusion, rest position and myocentric position, respectively determined by teeth engagement, joints position, and muscles contraction. All subjects showed variations of body posture in the different mandibular positions. Statistical analysis (analysis of variance for repeated measures) confirmed that postural variations in different jaws relations were significant: in particular, the SKN multiple comparison test showed that myocentric position improved postural balance on frontal plane with respect to the other jaw positions considered.

Analysis of Variance↗

Postural sway increase in low back pain subjects is not related to reduced spine range of motion.

This study questioned whether postural sway increase in low back pain subjects was related to impaired spine mobility, and especially to a decrease in the range of motion, which was assumed to represent structural spine stiffness. Ten low back pain subjects and ten healthy control subjects performed spine flexion-extension and spine side bending tests, and standing posturographic examination in different experimental conditions. Low back pain subjects showed increased postural sway along the antero-posterior axis and reduced side bending, i.e. posturographic and range of motion parameters varied in the opposite direction. Moreover, no correlation was found between these two types of parameters. Although significant, the slight decrease in spine side bending did not seem sufficiently great to disturb the low amplitude movements that maintain postural equilibrium. Hence, it was concluded that postural sway increase in low back pain is not related to a reduced spine range of motion, but might be linked to an increase in muscular active tension, which reduces dynamic mobility capacity.

Adult↗

EEG and postural correlates of mild traumatic brain injury in athletes.

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), or concussion, is one of the least understood injuries facing the neuroscience and sports medicine community today. The notion of transient dysfunction and rapid symptom resolution is misleading since symptom resolution is not indicative of injury resolution. Our working hypothesis is that there are residual postural and EEG abnormalities in concussed individuals that could be reliably assessed using appropriate research methodology. This paper presents combined postural and electroencephalographic (EEG) findings suggesting the persistent functional deficits in athletes suffering from MTBI. Twelve concussed athletes and twelve normal controls participated in the study. There was a decrease in EEG power in all bandwidths studied in concussed subjects, especially in standing postures. This was accompanied by sustained postural instability especially under the no vision testing condition. Overall, this study demonstrated the presence of long-term functional abnormalities in individuals suffering from mild traumatic brain injury.

Adolescent↗

Orthostatic posture affects brain hemodynamics and metabolism in cerebrovascular disease patients with and without coronary artery disease: a positron emission tomography study.

To investigate whether a physiological change in the orthostatic condition is associated with a deterioration of cerebrovascular and metabolic homeostasis in patients with neurocardiovascular compromises, we examined 10 patients with unilateral carotid artery occlusive disease (CVD), 6 CVD patients with coronary artery disease (CVDC), and 10 healthy subjects scanned twice under supine and sitting conditions by positron emission tomography (PET). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant reductions in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebral oxygen metabolism (rCMRO2) and tendency of increase in oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) in the affected-side parietal cortex during assuming of upright posture in the CVDC group, and there was a significant OEF increase to maintain rCMRO2 constant during sitting in the CVD counterpart. In this ischemic region, there were negative correlations between changes in OEF and rCBF in the CVD (P < 0.05) and CVDC groups (P < 0.01). Postural reductions in rCBF and CMRO2 in the parietal region were significantly greater in the CVDC group than those in the CVD group. While rCBF remained constant with mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in healthy subjects, an rCBF reduction was found in the affected parietal cortex in proportion to the upright posture-induced MABP decrease in the CVDC group. These results indicate that patients suffering from both cerebral and coronary artery diseases may be at greater risk of deterioration of local perfusion pressure and metabolic regulation in the hemodynamically susceptible brain region during upright posture.

Aged↗

Intraocular pressure changes and ocular biometry during Sirsasana (headstand posture) in yoga practitioners.

PURPOSE: To study the intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in Sirsasana (headstand posture) done by experienced yoga practitioners and correlate the ocular biometric parameters with the IOP changes, and to screen for the prevalence of ocular hypertension in this group of subjects. DESIGN: Prospective case observational series. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five subjects (50 Asian Indians and 25 Caucasians) from a yoga training institute volunteered for the study. METHODS: All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination along with ocular biometry and corneal pachymetry. Intraocular pressure was recorded using a Tonopen before, during, and after the Sirsasana. Changes were compared using the paired t test. Age, axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, corneal curvature, corneal thickness, race, and the length of time for which the practitioner was performing yoga were correlated with the induced IOP difference in a randomly selected eye using Pearson's correlation coefficient with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ocular biometry and induced IOP difference. RESULTS: The mean increase in IOP at baseline and immediately after assuming Sirsasana was 15.1+/-4.1 mmHg (R = 0.07; P = 0.999) and after 5 minutes was 15.8+/-4.6 mmHg (R = -0.25; P = 0.357). The induced increase in IOP during the posture was twice the baseline IOP. There was no correlation between age, ocular biometry, and ultrasound pachymetry when compared with the induced IOP difference. One subject (1.33%) was found to have baseline IOP of more than 21 mmHg. CONCLUSION: There was a uniform 2-fold increase in the IOP during Sirsasana, which was maintained during the posture in all age groups irrespective of the ocular biometry and ultrasound pachymetry. We did not demonstrate a higher prevalence of ocular hypertensives in this cohort of yoga practitioners nor did the risk factors contributing to glaucoma show any correlation with magnitude of IOP raise during the posture.

Adult↗

Primitive reflexes and postural reactions in the neurodevelopmental examination.

The primitive reflexes and the postural reactions comprise one of the earliest, simplest, and most frequently used tools among child neurologists to assess the central nervous system integrity of infants and young children. Infants with cerebral palsy have been known to manifest persistence or delay in the disappearance of primitive reflexes and pathologic or absent postural reactions. The clinical significance of asymmetric tonic neck reflex, Moro, palmar grasp, plantar grasp, Galant, Babinski, Rossolimo, crossed extensor, suprapubic extensor, and heel reflex, alone or in combination, as well as their contribution to the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cerebral palsy, have been demonstrated in a number of studies. Moreover, infants with 5 or more abnormal postural reactions have developed either cerebral palsy or developmental retardation as reported in a number of studies. Although a comprehensive neurologic examination in the context of a motor assessment instrument is preferable to an informal list of items, the combined examination of primitive reflexes and postural reactions should be considered by the child neurologist, as a simple but predictive screening test for the early identification of infants at risk for cerebral palsy. It is quick and easy to perform, both in nonhospital environments and in underdeveloped countries, where time and specific recourses are limited. The combined examination is also useful in developed countries because many developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy appear in nonrisk groups whereas others are not detected by metabolic screening programs.

Cerebral Palsy↗

Posture primarily affects lung tissue distribution with minor effect on blood flow and ventilation.

We used quantitative single photon emission computed tomography to estimate the proportion of the observed redistribution of blood flow and ventilation that is due to lung tissue shift with a change in posture. Seven healthy volunteers were studied awake, breathing spontaneously. Regional blood flow and ventilation were marked using radiotracers that remain fixed in the lung after administration. The radiotracers were administered in prone or supine at separate occasions, at both occasions followed by imaging in both postures. Images showed greater blood flow and ventilation to regions dependent at the time of imaging, regardless of posture at radiotracer administration. The results suggest that a shift in lung parenchyma has a major influence on the imaged distributions. We conclude that a change from the supine to the prone posture primarily causes a change in the vertical distribution of lung tissue. The effect on the vertical distribution of blood flow and ventilation within the lung parenchyma is much less.

Adult↗

Changes in vagal tone with posture in asthma are related to changes in ventilatory pattern.

BACKGROUND: Posturally induced changes in minute ventilation in patients may be autonomically driven. This study aimed to test whether changes in autonomic tone with posture differed between normal and asthmatic subjects and whether this related to changes in indices of ventilation. METHODS: Ten patients with type 1 brittle asthma (BA), 10 with non-brittle, severe asthma (SA), 10 with mild asthma (MA) and 10 normal individuals were studied lying flat, at 60 degrees head up tilt and flat again each for 30min, assessing end-tidal CO(2) (ETCO(2)), respiratory rate and autonomic tone by heart rate variability. RESULTS: Parasympathetic tone (as high-frequency [HF] power) fell on tilt in all four groups, all showing increases in LF (low frequency)/HF ratio (sympatho-vagal balance) on tilt (BA, 2.03-4.9; SA, 3.3-8.2; MA, 1.5-4.9; normals, 2.3-6.6). ETCO(2) on tilt fell significantly in all 3 asthma groups (BA, DeltaETCO(2) -0.4, 95% CIs -0.18 to -0.75, P=0.005; SA, -0.7, 95% CIs -0.27 to -1.16, P=0.004; MA, -0.5, 95% CIs -0.14 to -0.78, P=0.01) but not in normals (-0.1, 95% CIs +0.23 to -0.49). The fall in ETCO(2) on tilt correlated with the fall in HF power in all three asthma groups but not in normal subjects. CONCLUSION: Changes in vagal tone posture are seen on tilt in both normal and asthmatic subjects which relate to changes in ETCO(2) only in asthmatic subjects. This provides support for the hypothesis that hyper-ventilatory response to postural change in asthma is autonomically influenced.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the effect of postural perturbation on motoneuronal activity following various methods of lumbar spinal manipulation.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: One basic physiologic response to spinal manipulation (SM) is a transient decrease in motoneuronal activity, as assessed by the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) technique. However, questions of appropriate control procedures when using the H-reflex technique to study the basic physiologic mechanisms of SM still exist. The identification of appropriate control procedures may allow us to better differentiate among the specific and nonspecific aspects of SM. PURPOSE: The purpose of the research was to determine the contributions of postural perturbations on the attenuation of motoneuronal activity following spinal manipulative thrusts and spinal joint preload procedures applied to the lumbar spine. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: H/M(max) ratios, recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle, were measured before and after lumbar spinal procedures. The experimental designs for the laboratory data collection protocols were repeated measures and between-subjects. PATIENT SAMPLE: The subjects were asymptomatic, young, healthy volunteers. OUTCOME MEASURE: H/M(max) ratios recorded from the gastrocnemius muscle. METHODS: In Experiment 1, the administration of prone lumbar procedures involved either manual assist to more fully shear the lumbar zygapophyseal joints or no manual assist. One set of subjects (n=17) received assisted joint preload force and manipulation, whereas a second set of subjects (n=17) received unassisted joint preload force and manipulation. In a second laboratory experiment, one set of subjects (n=10) received a L5-S1 side-posture SM, whereas a second set of subjects (n=10) were just positioned into side-posture. RESULTS: There was a H/M(max) ratio attenuation of 18.2% after assisted spinal manipulation, whereas H/M(max) ratio attenuation was only 9.5% after unassisted spinal manipulation. Decreases of H/M(max) ratios by 8.5% and 7.5% were observed after assisted and unassisted joint preload forces, respectively. The amount of H/M(max) ratio attenuation was significantly greater immediately after the L5-S1 SM procedure (28.4%) as compared with a side-posture positioning maneuver (15.3%). CONCLUSION: SM may provide procedure-specific sensory input that appears to vary, based upon the various types of vertebral loading applied to the lumbar spine.

Adult↗

[Determination of postural behaviour patterns in the Spanish healthy population].

INTRODUCTION: Postural control in a standing position is externally reflected by the displacement of the centre of pressure (COP). It is necessary to determine COP movement normal patterns in order to obtain an accurate balance assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A non pathological subject group was studied using NED/IBV s. v. e. evaluation equipment. Static trials based on Romberg's test were undertaken in addition to the analysis trials of voluntary postural control. RESULTS: Normal patterns have been obtained for the COP displacement and for the maximum forces produced in the anteroposterior and midlateral axes. CONCLUSIONS: COP movement comparative analysis, related to postural behaviour patterns of non-pathological persons, represents an accurate method to assess postural balance in a standing position. This information enables the design of individual and customised rehabilitation strategies in order to reduce the risk of falling.

Adult↗

Reproducibility of postural changes in intraocular pressure with the Tono-Pen and Pulsair tonometers.

Reproducibility of measurements of postural changes in intraocular pressure was determined by using the Tono-Pen (Mentor O & O, Inc., Norwell, Massachusetts) and Pulsair (Keeler Instruments, Inc., Broomhall, Pennsylvania) tonometers. Thirty subjects had three repeated sitting and reclining measurements performed on three separate visit days. Reproducibility coefficients of 3.3% for the Tono-Pen and 6.3% for the Pulsair were obtained for the within-visit postural change measurements. Across-visit reproducibility coefficients were 7.9% and 26.2% for the Tono-Pen and Pulsair, respectively. The estimated standard deviations for both the within-visit and across-visit postural change measurements were high for both instruments. These results indicate poor reproducibility of measurements of postural changes in intraocular pressure.

Adult↗

Adaptation of head posture in response to relocating the center of mass: a pilot study.

Relationships have been established between head posture and craniofacial morphology in both adults and children. The determinants of head posture are not yet understood. Does posture dictate form, or vice versa? This pilot study investigates the short-term effect of artificial forward relocation of the center of the mass of the head on postural adaptation in the sagittal plane. The observed responses are not systematically uniform and, in fact, are characterized by a lack of consistency and a high degree of intra- and interindividual variability.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Endurance, pain and resumption in fully flexed postures.

In this study effects of low loads in fully flexed postures were investigated. Thirteen men who were unused to the postures participated. Thirteen professional construction workers with long experience of suchlike postures were also studied. Pain reactions during and after loading were observed, as well as endurance time and the recovery process, here by studying the resumption time. Endurance and resumption times differed little from those given by models used for more common postures. Pain from the legs and not from the back limited the working ability in 86% of the endurance tests. Thirdly, the construction workers had significantly longer endurance time and shorter resumption time.

Adult↗

Method for the analysis of posture and interface pressure of car drivers.

Biomechanical study of car driver posture is one of the most referenced aspects for the ergonomic design process of the whole vehicle. The aim of this work is to present a multi-factor method for the analysis of sitting posture and the resulting interactions of the car driver body with the cushion and the backrest. The proposed method, based on the combined use of an optoelectronic system for motion capture and suitable matrices of pressure sensors, has allowed the measurement of a large set of car driver posture parameters and the identification of specific sitting strategies characterising the driving posture, despite the different behaviours of the analysed subjects.

Adult↗

Static three-dimensional modelling of prolonged seated posture.

Prolonged seating can cause musculo-skeletal problems in the long term if poor postures are adopted. A three dimensional static model of the body to calculate the intervertebral disc compression at the fifth lumbar disc was built. SAMMIE, a computer aided ergonomics package was used for modelling a computer operator workstation and determination of joint centre locations and joint angles in a seated posture. Experimentation was also performed to determine the body-mass distribution on the seat used. No significant difference between male and female body-mass distribution was found. The static model found postures with the seat pan and backrest reclined to predict the lowest disc compression. Postures in which the operator was bent forwards gave the highest disc loadings.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Validity of self-reported duration of work postures obtained by interview. MUSIC-Norrtälje Study Group.

The aim of the study was to validate interview data concerning the duration of four work postures (1) sitting, (2) standing/walking with hands above shoulder level, (3) standing/walking with hands between shoulder and knuckle level, and (4) standing/walking with hands below knuckle level. The self-reported time spent in each posture was tested in relation to observations and technical measurements in 20 subjects during two full working days. The linear relationships between self-reports and observations were strong for the three postures; sitting (r2 = 0.55), hands above shoulder level (r2 = 0.58) and hands below knuckle level (r2 = 0.69). Thus, using this interview technique, self-reports concerning time spent in (1) sitting, (2) standing/walking with hands above shoulder level and, (3) standing/walking with hands below knuckle level may be accurate enough for studying these work postures in epidemiological studies.

Adult↗

Cumulative trauma disorders in the upper extremities: reliability of the postural and repetitive risk-factors index.

OBJECTIVE: This study addresses test-retest reliability of the Postural and Repetitive Risk-Factors Index (PRRI) for work-related upper body injuries. This assessment was developed by the present authors. DESIGN: A repeated measures design was used to assess the test-retest reliability of a videotaped work-site assessment of subjects' movements. SUBJECTS: Ten heavy users of video display terminals (VDTs) from a local banking industry participated in the study. SETTING: The 10 subjects' movements were videotaped for 2 hours on each of 2 separate days, while working on-site at their VDTs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The videotaped assessment, which utilized known postural risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorder, pain, and discomfort in heavy VDT users (ie, repetitiveness, awkward and static postures, and contraction time), was called the PRRI. The videotaped movement assessments were subsequently analyzed in 15-minute sessions (five sessions per 2-hour videotape, which produced a total of 10 sessions over the 2 testing days), and each session was chosen randomly from the videotape. The subjects' movements were given a postural risk score according to the criteria in the PRRI. Each subject was therefore tested a total of 10 times (ie, 10 sessions), over two days. The maximum PRRI score for both sides of the body was 216 points. RESULTS: Reliability coefficients (RCs) for the PRRI scores were calculated, and the reliability of any one session met the minimum criterion for excellent reliability, which was .75. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed that there was no statistically significant difference between sessions (p < .05). Calculations using the standard error of measurement (SEM) indicated that an individual tested once, on one day and with a PRRI score of 25, required a change of at least 8 points in order to be confident that a true change in score had occurred. The significant results from the reliability tests indicated that the PRRI was a reliable measurement tool that could be used by occupational health practitioners on the job site.

Adult↗

Head and shoulder posture variations in 160 asymptomatic women and men.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively describe the postural alignment of the head and shoulders and the surface curvature of the thoracic spine in comfortable erect standing and to examine the effect of age and gender on head and shoulder alignment. DESIGN: Descriptive survey. SETTING: Gait research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty asymptomatic volunteers aged between 17 and 83 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Five photographic measurements of head and shoulder posture in the coronal and sagittal planes and a photographic measurement of the surface curvature of the thoracic spine in the sagittal plane. RESULTS: Mean values of coronal head tilt, coronal shoulder angle, sagittal head tilt, sagittal C7-tragus angle, and sagittal shoulder-C7 angle were 180.1 degrees, 181 degrees, 172.1 degrees, 131.1 degrees, and 53.7 degrees, respectively. The 95% confidence intervals for the means ranged between 1 degree and 3.8 degrees. For each of the head and shoulder measurements there was no significant gender difference (p = .33 to .99). Of the five measurements, only sagittal C7-tragus angle was significantly correlated with age (r = .44), and none was correlated with surface curvature of the thoracic spine. CONCLUSIONS: Head and shoulder posture was similar between genders. Only one postural description that has been described anecdotally was identified, i.e., that age was related to the position of the head with respect to the trunk in the sagittal plane, although the strength of the association was of questionable clinical significance. In contrast, other longstanding assumptions were not supported, and accordingly, a forward head was not associated with increased thoracic curvature or upper cervical spine extension.

Adolescent↗